Variation in the composition of the essential oil of Valeriana officinalis L. roots from Estonia; 67–74

Abstract

The volatile constituents from roots of Valeriana officinalis L. were investigated using GC and GC/MS methods. Valerianae radix samples were obtained from retail pharmacies or cultivated in Estonia. The roots of five V. officinalis samples yielded 0.28-1.16% essential oil in the cut drug, which usually corresponded (four samples) to the European Pharmacopeia standard (0.3%). The basic oil components among the identified 84 compounds were isovaleric acid (0-2.1%), -pinene (0.4-3.6%), -fenchene (0.6-5.8%), camphene (0.6-5.9%), bornyl acetate (8.8-33.7%), myrtenyl acetate (2.0-7.2%), alloaromadendrene (0.3-7.6%), myrtenyl isovalerate (1.1-2.5%), spathulenol (0.7-4.1%), sesquiterpen e alcohol (0.8-6.6%), valerianol (0.3-16.7%), valeranone (0.5-9.4%), and valerenal (tr-14.7%). Valerian root oil from Estonia (four samples) was rich in bornyl acetate and valerenal. Bornyl acetate, valerianol, and valera none dominated in one Estonian sample.